The Spanish name of de city, Tucsón[tukˈson], is derived from de O'odhamCuk Ṣon[tʃʊk ʂɔːn], meaning "(at de) base of de bwack [hiww]", a reference to a basawt-covered hiww now known as Sentinew Peak, awso known as "A" Mountain, uh-hah-hah-hah.[9] Tucson is sometimes referred to as "The Owd Puebwo".

Tucson was probabwy first visited by Paweo-Indians, known to have been in soudern Arizona about 12,000 years ago. Recent archaeowogicaw excavations near de Santa Cruz River found a viwwage site dating from 2100 BC.[10] The fwoodpwain of de Santa Cruz River was extensivewy farmed during de Earwy Agricuwturaw Period, circa 1200 BC to AD 150. These peopwe constructed irrigation canaws and grew corn, beans, and oder crops whiwe gadering wiwd pwants and hunting. The Earwy Ceramic period occupation of Tucson saw de first extensive use of pottery vessews for cooking and storage. The groups designated as de Hohokam wived in de area from AD 600 to 1450 and are known for deir vast irrigation canaw systems and deir red-on-brown pottery.[11][12]

From 1877 to 1878, de area suffered a rash of stagecoach robberies. Most notabwe were de two howdups committed by masked road-agent Wiwwiam Whitney Brazewton.[13] Brazewton hewd up two stages in de summer of 1878 near Point of Mountain Station approximatewy 17 mi (27 km) nordwest of Tucson, uh-hah-hah-hah. John Cwum, of Tombstone, Arizona fame was one of de passengers. Pima County Sheriff Charwes A. Shibeww and his citizen posse kiwwed Brazewton on Monday August 19, 1878, in a mesqwitebosqwe awong de Santa Cruz River 3 miwes (5 km) souf of Tucson, uh-hah-hah-hah. Brazewton had been suspected of highway robbery in de Tucson area, de Prescott region and Siwver City, New Mexico area. Brazewton's crimes prompted John J. Vawentine, Sr. of Wewws, Fargo & Co. to send speciaw agent and future Pima County sheriff Bob Pauw to investigate.[13] Fort Loweww, den east of Tucson, was estabwished to hewp protect settwers from Apache attacks.

In 1882, Frank Stiwweww was impwicated in de murder of Morgan Earp by CowboyPete Spence's wife, Marietta, at de coroner's inqwest on Morgan Earp's shooting. The coroner's jury concwuded Spence, Stiwweww, Frederick Bode, and Fworentino "Indian Charwie" Cruz were de prime suspects in de assassination of Morgan Earp.[14]:250 Deputy U.S. Marshaw Wyatt Earp gadered a few trusted friends and accompanied Virgiw Earp and his famiwy as dey travewed to Benson for a train ride to Cawifornia. They found Stiwweww wying in wait for Virgiw in de Tucson station and kiwwed him on de tracks.[15][16] After kiwwing Stiwweww, Wyatt deputized oders and rode on a vendetta, kiwwing dree more cowboys over de next few days before weaving de state.

In 1890, Asians made up 4.2% of de city's popuwation, uh-hah-hah-hah.[17]

By 1900, 7,531 peopwe wived in de city. The popuwation increased to 13,913 in 1910. At about dis time, de U.S. Veterans Administration had begun construction on de present Veterans Hospitaw. The city's cwean, dry air attracted many veterans who had been gassed in Worwd War I and needed respiratory derapy.[18] The city continued to grow, wif de popuwation increasing to 20,292 in 1920 and 36,818 in 1940. In 2006, de popuwation of Pima County, in which Tucson is wocated, passed one miwwion, whiwe de City of Tucson's popuwation was 535,000.[citation needed]

In 1912, when Arizona statehood became reawity, de number of fwags dat had fwown over Tucson now numbered five: American, Spanish, Mexican, Confederate, and de State of Arizona.
[19]

Tucson, 1909

During de territoriaw and earwy statehood periods, Tucson was Arizona's wargest city and commerciaw center, whiwe Phoenix was de seat of state government (beginning in 1889) and agricuwture. The estabwishment of Tucson Municipaw Airport increased its prominence. Between 1910 and 1920, Phoenix surpassed Tucson in popuwation, and has continued to outpace Tucson in growf. In recent years, bof Tucson and Phoenix have experienced some of de highest growf rates in de United States.

Tucson is 118 mi (190 km) soudeast of Phoenix and 60 mi (97 km) norf of de United States - Mexico border. The 2010 United States Census puts de city's popuwation at 520,116 wif a metropowitan area popuwation at 980,263. In 2009, Tucson ranked as de 32nd wargest city and 52nd wargest metropowitan area in de United States. A major city in de Arizona Sun Corridor, Tucson is de wargest city in soudern Arizona, de second wargest in de state after Phoenix. It is awso de wargest city in de area of de Gadsden Purchase. As of 2015, The Greater Tucson Metro area has exceeded a popuwation of 1 miwwion, uh-hah-hah-hah.

The city is on de Santa Cruz River, formerwy a perenniaw river, but now a dry river bed for much of de year dat fwoods during significant seasonaw rains.

Simiwar to many oder cities in de Western U.S., Tucson was devewoped on a grid pwan starting in de wate 19f century, wif de city center at Stone Avenue and Broadway Bouwevard. Whiwe dis intersection was initiawwy near de geographic center of Tucson, dat center has shifted as de city has expanded far to de east, devewopment to de west being effectivewy bwocked by de Tucson Mountains. An expansive city covering substantiaw area, Tucson has many distinct neighborhoods.

Barrio Ew Hoyo, named for a wake dat was part of de gardens. Before de TCC was buiwt, Ew Hoyo (Spanish for pit or howe) referred to dis part of de city, which was inhabited mainwy by Mexican-American citizens and Mexican immigrants.

Sam Hughes, east of de University of Arizona, named after a Tucson pioneer

Bikes awong Congress Street near Fiff Avenue

At de end of de first decade of de 21st century, downtown Tucson underwent a revitawization effort by city pwanners and de business community. The primary project was Rio Nuevo, a warge retaiw and community center dat has been stawwed in pwanning for more dan ten years.[26][27] Downtown is generawwy regarded as de area bordered by 17f Street to de souf, I-10 to de west, and 6f Street to de norf, and Toowe Avenue and de Union Pacific (formerwy Soudern Pacific) raiwroad tracks, site of de historic train depot[28] and "Locomotive #1673", buiwt in 1900. Downtown is divided into de Presidio District, de Barrio Viejo, and de Congress Street Arts and Entertainment District.[29] Some audorities incwude de 4f Avenue shopping district, which is set just nordeast of de rest of downtown and connected by an underpass beneaf de UPRR tracks.

The recentwy restored Fox Theatre is in downtown Tucson, uh-hah-hah-hah.

As one of de owdest parts of town, Centraw Tucson is anchored by de Broadway Viwwage shopping center. The shopping center was designed by wocaw architect Josias Joeswer and sits at de intersection of Broadway Bouwevard and Country Cwub Road. The 4f Avenue Shopping District between downtown, de university, and de Lost Barrio just East of downtown, awso have many uniqwe and popuwar stores. Locaw retaiw business in Centraw Tucson is densewy concentrated awong Fourf Avenue and de Main Gate Sqware on University Bouwevard near de UA campus. The Ew Con Maww is awso in de eastern part of midtown, uh-hah-hah-hah.

Tucson's wargest park, Reid Park, is in midtown and incwudes Reid Park Zoo and Hi Corbett Fiewd. Speedway Bouwevard, a major east-west arteriaw road in centraw Tucson, was named de "ugwiest street in America" by Life magazine in de earwy 1970s, qwoting Tucson Mayor James Corbett. Despite dis, Speedway Bouwevard was awarded "Street of de Year" by Arizona Highways in de wate 1990s. According to David Leighton, historicaw writer for de Arizona Daiwy Star newspaper, Speedway Bouwevard derives its name from an owd horse racetrack, known as "The Harwem River Speedway," more commonwy cawwed "The Speedway," in New York City. The street was cawwed "The Speedway," from 1904 to about 1906 before de word "The" was taken out.[34]

Centraw Tucson is bicycwe-friendwy. To de east of de University of Arizona, Third Street is bike-onwy except for wocaw traffic and passes by de historic homes of de Sam Hughes neighborhood. To de west, E. University Bouwevard weads to de Fourf Avenue Shopping District. To de Norf, N. Mountain Avenue has a fuww bike-onwy wane for hawf of de 3.5 miwes (5.6 km) to de Riwwito River Park bike and wawk muwti-use paf. To de souf, N. Highwand Avenue weads to de Barraza-Aviation Parkway bicycwe paf.[35]

Souf Tucson is actuawwy de name of an independent, incorporated town of 1 sq mi (2.6 km2), compwetewy surrounded by de city of Tucson, just souf of downtown, uh-hah-hah-hah. Souf Tucson has a coworfuw, dynamic history. It was first incorporated in 1936, and water reincorporated in 1940. The popuwation consists of about 83% Mexican-American and 10% Native American residents. Souf Tucson is widewy known for its many Mexican restaurants and de architecturaw stywes which incwude bright outdoor muraws, many of which have been painted over due to city powicy.[36][37][38]

On Sentinew Peak (awso known as "'A' Mountain"), just west of downtown, dere is a giant "A" in honor of de University of Arizona. Starting in about 1916, a yearwy tradition devewoped for freshmen to whitewash de "A", which was visibwe for miwes. However, at de beginning of de Iraq War, anti-war activists painted it bwack. This was fowwowed by a paint scuffwe where de "A" was painted various cowors untiw de city counciw intervened. It is now red, white and bwue except when it is white or anoder cowor decided by a bienniaw ewection, uh-hah-hah-hah. Because of de dree-cowor paint scheme often used, de shape of de A can be vague and indistinguishabwe from de rest of de peak. The top of Sentinew Peak, which is accessibwe by road, offers an outstanding scenic view of de city wooking eastward. A parking wot near de summit of Sentinew Peak was a popuwar pwace to watch sunsets or view de city wights at night.

Norf Tucson incwudes de urban neighborhoods of Amphideater and Fwowing Wewws. Usuawwy considered de area norf of Fort Loweww Road, Norf Tucson incwudes some of Tucson's primary commerciaw zones (Tucson Maww and de Oracwe Road Corridor). Many of de city's most upscawe boutiqwes, restaurants, and art gawweries are awso on de norf side, incwuding St. Phiwip's Pwaza. The Pwaza is directwy adjacent to de historic St. Phiwip's in de Hiwws Episcopaw Church (buiwt in 1936).

Awso on de norf side is de suburban community of Catawina Foodiwws, wocated in de foodiwws of de Santa Catawina Mountains just norf of de city wimits. This community incwudes among de area's most expensive homes, sometimes muwtimiwwion-dowwar estates. The Foodiwws area is generawwy defined as norf of River Road, east of Oracwe Road[42] and west of Sabino Creek. Some of de Tucson area's major resorts are in de Catawina Foodiwws, incwuding de Hacienda Dew Sow, Westin La Pawoma Resort, Loews Ventana Canyon Resort and Canyon Ranch Resort. La Encantada, an upscawe outdoor shopping maww, is awso in de Foodiwws.

The expansive area nordwest of de city wimits is diverse, ranging from de ruraw communities of Catawina and parts of de town of Marana, de smaww suburb of Picture Rocks, de affwuent town of Oro Vawwey in de western foodiwws of de Santa Catawina Mountains, and residentiaw areas in de nordeastern foodiwws of de Tucson Mountains. Continentaw Ranch (Marana), Dove Mountain (Marana), and Rancho Vistoso (Oro Vawwey) are aww masterpwanned communities in de Nordwest dat have dousands of residents.

East Tucson is rewativewy new compared to oder parts of de city, devewoped between de 1950s and de 1970s,[citation needed] wif devewopments such as Desert Pawms Park. It is generawwy cwassified as de area of de city east of Swan Road, wif above-average reaw estate vawues rewative to de rest of de city. The area incwudes urban and suburban devewopment near de Rincon Mountains. East Tucson incwudes Saguaro Nationaw Park East. Tucson's "Restaurant Row" is awso on de east side, awong wif a significant corporate and financiaw presence. Restaurant Row is sandwiched by dree of Tucson's storied Neighborhoods: Harowd Beww Wright Estates,[43] named after de famous audor's ranch which occupied some of dat area before de depression; de Tucson Country Cwub (de dird to bear de name Tucson Country Cwub),[44] and de Dorado Country Cwub. Tucson's wargest office buiwding is 5151 East Broadway in east Tucson, compweted in 1975. The first phases of Wiwwiams Centre, a mixed-use, master-pwanned devewopment on Broadway near Craycroft Road,[45] were opened in 1987. Park Pwace, a recentwy renovated shopping center, is awso awong Broadway (west of Wiwmot Road).

Near de intersection of Craycroft and Ft. Loweww Roads are de remnants of de Historic Fort Loweww. This area has become one of Tucson's iconic neighborhoods. In 1891, de Fort was abandoned and much of de interior was stripped of deir usefuw components and it qwickwy feww into ruin, uh-hah-hah-hah. In 1900, dree of de officer buiwdings were purchased for use as a sanitarium. The sanitarium was den sowd to Harvey Adkins in 1928. The Bowsius famiwy Pete, Nan and Charwes Bowsius purchased and renovated surviving adobe buiwdings of de Fort – transforming dem into spectacuwar artistic soudwestern architecturaw exampwes. Their woodwork, pwaster treatment and sense of proportion drew on deir Dutch heritage and New Mexican experience. Oder artists and academics droughout de middwe of de 20f century, incwuding: Win Ewwis, Jack Mauw, Madame Germaine Cheruy and René Cheruy, Giorgio Bewwowi, Charews Bode, Veronica Hughart, Edward H. Spicer and Rosamond Spicer, Hazew Larson Archer and Ruf Brown, renovated adobes, buiwt homes and wived in de area. The artist cowony attracted writers and poets incwuding beat generation Awan Harrington and Jack Kerouac whose visit is documented in his iconic book On de Road. This ruraw pocket in de middwe of de city is wisted on de Nationaw Register of Historic Pwaces. Each year in February de neighborhood cewebrates its history in de City Landmark it owns and restored de San Pedro Chapew.

Soudeast Tucson continues to experience rapid residentiaw devewopment. The area incwudes Davis-Mondan Air Force Base. The area is considered to be souf of Gowf Links Road. It is de home of Santa Rita High Schoow, Chuck Ford Park (Lakeside Park), Lakeside Lake, Lincown Park (upper and wower), The Lakecrest Neighborhoods, and Pima Community Cowwege East Campus. The Atterbury Wash wif its access to excewwent bird watching is awso in de Soudeast Tucson area. The suburban community of Rita Ranch houses many of de miwitary famiwies from Davis-Mondan, and is near de soudeastern-most expansion of de current city wimits. Cwose by Rita Ranch and awso widin de city wimits wies Civano,[46] a pwanned devewopment meant to showcase ecowogicawwy sound buiwding practices and wifestywes.

A view of Tucson from Windy Point, at ewevation 6,580 feet (2,010 m) awong de road up Mt. Lemmon

Mount Lemmon, de highest peak of de Santa Catawina Mountains, reaches an ewevation of 9,157 feet (2,791 m) above sea wevew. The mountain is named after 19f century botanist Sara Lemmon. She was de first documented European woman to ascend to de peak, accompanied by her husband and by wocaw rancher Emmerson Owiver Stratton, uh-hah-hah-hah.[47][48][49] The Lemmons botanized[cwarification needed] extensivewy awong de way, incwuding cowwecting de pwant Tagetes wemmonii which is now cawwed de Mount Lemmon marigowd.

Catawina Highway stretches 25 miwes (40 km) and de entire mountain range is one of Tucson's most popuwar vacation spots for cycwing, hiking, rock cwimbing, camping, birding, and wintertime snowboarding and skiing. Near de top of Mt. Lemmon is de town of Summerhaven. In Summerhaven, visitors wiww find wog houses and cabins, a generaw store, and various shops, as weww as numerous hiking traiws. Near Summerhaven is de road to Ski Vawwey which hosts a ski wift, severaw runs, a giftshop, and nearby restaurant.

Summer is characterized by daytime temperatures of over 100 °F (38 °C) and overnight temperatures between 66 and 85 °F (19 and 29 °C). Earwy summer is characterized by wow humidity and cwear skies; mid-summer and wate summer are characterized by higher humidity, cwoudy skies and freqwent rain, uh-hah-hah-hah. The sun is intense in Tucson during part of de year, and significant protection is needed for dose who spend time outdoors. Recent studies show de rate of skin cancer in Arizona is at weast dree times higher dan in more norderwy regions. Additionaw intense heating is a risk to hikers and oders who seek to hike canyons and exposed areas.[53]

The monsoon season typicawwy begins from earwy Juwy to wate Juwy, wif an average start date around Juwy 3. It typicawwy continues drough August and sometimes into September.[54] During de monsoon, de humidity is much higher dan de rest of de year. It begins wif cwouds buiwding up from de souf in de earwy afternoon fowwowed by intense dunderstorms and rainfaww, which can cause fwash fwoods. The evening sky at dis time of year is often pierced wif dramatic wightning strikes. Large areas of de city do not have storm sewers, so monsoon rains fwood de main doroughfares, usuawwy for no wonger dan a few hours. A few underpasses in Tucson have "feet of water" scawes painted on deir supports to discourage fording by automobiwes during a rainstorm.[55] Arizona traffic code Titwe 28-910, de so-cawwed "Stupid Motorist Law", was instituted in 1995 to discourage peopwe from entering fwooded roadways. If de road is fwooded and a barricade is in pwace, motorists who drive around de barricade can be charged up to $2000 for costs invowved in rescuing dem.[56] Despite aww warnings and precautions, however, dree Tucson drivers have drowned between 2004 and 2010.[citation needed]

The weader in de faww is much wike spring: dry, wif warm/coow nights and warm/hot days. Temperatures above 100 °F (38 °C) are possibwe into earwy October. Temperatures decwine at de qwickest rate in October and November, and are normawwy de coowest in wate December and earwy January.

Winters in Tucson are miwd rewative to oder parts of de United States. Daytime highs range between 64 and 75 °F (18 and 24 °C), wif overnight wows between 30 and 44 °F (−1 and 7 °C). Tucson typicawwy averages one hard freeze per winter season, wif temperatures dipping to de mid or wow-20s (−7 to −4 °C), but dis is typicawwy wimited to onwy a very few nights. Awdough rare, snow has fawwen in Tucson, usuawwy a wight dusting dat mewts widin a day. The most recent snowfaww was on February 22, 2019 when 1.9 inches of snow feww in de city.[57] This snow occurred onwy 52 days after de wast snow, which occurred on January 2.[58]
Earwy spring is characterized by graduawwy rising temperatures and severaw weeks of vivid wiwdfwower bwooms beginning in wate February and into March. During dis time of year de diurnaw temperature variation normawwy attains its maximum, often surpassing 30 °F (17 °C).

At de University of Arizona, where records have been kept since 1894, de record maximum temperature was 115 °F (46 °C) on June 19, 1960, and Juwy 28, 1995, and de record minimum temperature was 6 °F (−14 °C) on January 7, 1913. There are an average of 150.1 days annuawwy wif highs of 90 °F (32 °C) or higher and an average of 26.4 days wif wows reaching or bewow de freezing mark. Average annuaw precipitation is 11.15 in (283 mm). There is an average of 49 days wif measurabwe precipitation, uh-hah-hah-hah. The wettest year was 1905 wif 24.17 in (614 mm) and de driest year was 1924 wif 5.07 in (129 mm). The most precipitation in one monf was 7.56 in (192 mm) in Juwy 1984. The most precipitation in 24 hours was 4.16 in (106 mm) on October 1, 1983. Annuaw snowfaww averages 0.7 in (1.8 cm). The most snow in one year was 7.2 in (18 cm) in 1987. The most snow in one monf was 6.0 in (15 cm) in January 1898 and March 1922.[59]

At de airport, where records have been kept since 1930, de record maximum temperature was 117 °F (47 °C) on June 26, 1990, and de record minimum temperature was 16 °F (−9 °C) on January 4, 1949. There is an average of 145.0 days annuawwy wif highs of 90 °F (32 °C) or higher and an average of 16.9 days wif wows reaching or bewow de freezing mark. Measurabwe precipitation fawws on an average of 53 days. The wettest year was 1983 wif 21.86 in (555 mm) of precipitation, and de driest year was 1953 wif 5.34 in (136 mm). The most rainfaww in one monf was 7.93 in (201 mm) in August 1955. The most rainfaww in 24 hours was 3.93 in (100 mm) on Juwy 29, 1958. Snow at de airport averages onwy 1.1 in (2.8 cm) annuawwy. The most snow received in one year was 8.3 in (21 cm) and de most snow in one monf was 6.8 in (17 cm) in December 1971.[60]

Map of raciaw distribution in Tucson, 2010 U.S. Census. Each dot is 25 peopwe: White, Bwack, Asian, Hispanic of any race or Oder (yewwow)

As of de census of 2010, dere were 520,116 peopwe, 229,762 househowds, and 112,455 famiwies residing in de city. The popuwation density was 2,500.1 inhabitants per sqware miwe (965.3/km²). There were 209,609 housing units at an average density of 1,076.7 per sqware miwe (415.7/km²). The raciaw makeup of de city was 69.7% White (down from 94.8% in 1970[66]), 5.0% Bwack or African-American, 2.7% Native American, 2.9% Asian, 0.2% Pacific Iswander, 16.9% from oder races, and 3.8% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 41.6% of de popuwation, uh-hah-hah-hah.[67]Non-Hispanic Whites were 47.2% of de popuwation in 2010,[67] down from 72.8% in 1970.[66]

There were 192,891 househowds out of which 29.0% had chiwdren under de age of 18 wiving wif dem, 39.7% were married coupwes wiving togeder, 13.8% had a femawe househowder wif no husband present, and 41.7% were non-famiwies. 32.3% of aww househowds were made up of individuaws and 9.3% had someone wiving awone who was 65 years of age or owder. The average househowd size was 2.42 and de average famiwy size was 3.12.

In de inner-city, de popuwation has 24.6% under de age of 18, 13.8% from 18 to 24, 30.5% from 25 to 44, 19.2% from 45 to 64, and 11.9% who were 65 years of age or owder. The median age was 32 years. For every 100 femawes, dere were 96.0 mawes. For every 100 femawes age 18 and over, dere were 93.3 mawes.

The median income for a househowd in de city was $30,981, and de median income for a famiwy was $37,344. Mawes had a median income of $28,548 versus $23,086 for femawes. The per capita income for de city was $16,322. About 13.7% of famiwies and 18.4% of de popuwation were bewow de poverty wine, incwuding 23.6% of dose under age 18 and 11.0% of dose age 65 or over.[68]

Much of Tucson's economic devewopment has been centered on de devewopment of de University of Arizona, which is currentwy de second wargest empwoyer in de city. Davis-Mondan Air Force Base, on de city's soudeastern edge, awso provides many jobs for Tucson residents. Its presence, as weww as de presence of de US Army Intewwigence Center (Fort Huachuca, de wargest empwoyer in de region in nearby Sierra Vista), has wed to de devewopment of many high-tech industries, incwuding government contractors, in de area. The city of Tucson is awso a major hub for de Union Pacific Raiwroad's Sunset Route dat winks de Los Angewes ports wif de Souf/Soudeast regions of de country.

Tourism is anoder major industry in Tucson, bringing in $2 biwwion per year and over 3.5 miwwion visitors annuawwy due to Tucson's numerous resorts, hotews, and attractions.[71]

One of de major annuaw attractions is de Tucson Gem and Mineraw Show, and its associated shows, aww hewd generawwy in de first two weeks of February. These associated shows (such as gems, jewewry, beads, fossiws) are hewd droughout de city, wif 43 different shows in 2010. This makes Tucson's de wargest such exposition in de worwd.

In addition to vacationers, a significant number of winter residents, or "snowbirds", are attracted by Tucson's miwd winters and contribute to de wocaw economy. Snowbirds often purchase second homes in Tucson and nearby areas, contributing significantwy to de property tax base.

There are awso a number of middwe-cwass and upper-cwass Sonorans and Sinawoans who travew from Mexico to Tucson to purchase goods not readiwy avaiwabwe in Mexico.[citation needed]

The Tucson Gem & Mineraw Show is one of de wargest gem and mineraw shows in de worwd and has been hewd for over 50 years. The Show is onwy one part of de gem, mineraw, fossiw, and bead gadering hewd aww around Tucson in over 45 different sites.[73] The various shows run from wate-January to mid-February wif de officiaw Show wasting two weeks in February.

Since 2009, de Tucson Festivaw of Books has been hewd annuawwy over a two-day period in March at de University of Arizona. By 2010 it had become de fourf wargest book festivaw in de United States, wif 450 audors and 80,000 attendees.[74] In addition to readings and wectures, it features a science fair, varied entertainment, food, and exhibitors ranging from wocaw retaiwers and pubwishers to regionaw and nationaw nonprofit organizations.[75] In 2011, de Festivaw Founders estabwished an award to recognize exceptionaw witerary achievement. The Founders Award Winners are:

For de past 33 years, de Tucson Fowk Festivaw has taken pwace de first Saturday and Sunday of May in downtown Tucson's Ew Presidio Park. In addition to nationawwy known headwine acts each evening, de Festivaw highwights over 100 wocaw and regionaw musicians on five stages is one of de wargest free festivaws in de country. Aww stages are widin easy wawking distance. Organized by de Tucson Kitchen Musicians' Association,[77] vowunteers make dis festivaw possibwe. KXCI 91.3-FM, Arizona's onwy community radio station, is a major partner, broadcasting from de Pwaza Stage droughout de weekend. In addition, dere are numerous workshops, events for chiwdren, sing-awongs, and a popuwar singer-songwriter contest. Musicians typicawwy pway 30-minute sets, supported by professionaw audio staff vowunteers. A variety of food and crafts are avaiwabwe at de festivaw, as weww as wocaw micro-brews. Aww proceeds from sawes go to fund future festivaws.

There are two Fourf Avenue Street Fairs, in December and wate March/earwy Apriw, staged between 9f Street and University Bouwevard, dat feature arts and crafts boods, food vendors and street performers. The fairs began in 1970 when Fourf Avenue, which at de time had hawf a dozen drift shops, severaw New Age bookshops and de Food Conspiracy Co-Op, was a gadering pwace for hippies, and a few merchants put tabwes in front of deir stores to attract customers before de howidays.

These days, de street fair has grown into a warge corporate event, wif most tabwes owned by outside merchants. It hosts mostwy travewing craftsmen sewwing various arts such as pottery, paintings, wood working, metaw decorations, candwes, and many oders.

Anoder popuwar event hewd in February, which is earwy spring in Tucson, is de Fiesta de wos Vaqweros, or rodeo week, founded by winter visitor, Leighton Kramer.[78] Whiwe at its heart de Fiesta is a sporting event, it incwudes what is biwwed as "de worwd's wargest non-mechanized parade".[79] The Rodeo Parade is a popuwar event as most schoows give two rodeo days off instead of Presidents Day. The exception to dis is Presidio High (a non-pubwic charter schoow), which doesn't get eider. Western wear is seen droughout de city as corporate dress codes are cast aside during de Fiesta. The Fiesta de wos Vaqweros marks de beginning of de rodeo season in de United States.

Every October for de past 30 years, Tucson Meet Yoursewf[80] has presented de faces of Tucson's many ednic groups. For one weekend, dancing, singing, artwork, and food from more dan 30 different ednicities are featured in de downtown area. Aww performers are from Tucson and de surrounding area, in keeping wif de idea of "meeting yoursewf."

The Aww Souws Procession, hewd in earwy November, is one of de wargest festivaws in Tucson, uh-hah-hah-hah. Modewed on de Mexican howiday Dia de wos Muertos (Day of de Dead), it combines aspects of many different cuwturaw traditions.[82] The first Aww Souws Procession was organized by wocaw artist Susan Kay Johnson in 1990 and invowved 35 participants; by 2013, participation was estimated at 50,000.[83][84]

The Procession, hewd at sundown, consists of a non-motorized parade drough downtown Tucson featuring many fwoats, scuwptures, and memoriaws, in which de community is encouraged to participate. The parade is fowwowed by performances on an outdoor stage, cuwminating in de burning of an urn in which written prayers have been cowwected from participants and spectators.[84][85] The event is organized and funded by de non-profit arts organization Many Mouds One Stomach, wif de assistance of many vowunteers and donations from de pubwic and wocaw businesses.[84]

The University of Arizona Museum of Art incwudes works by Franz Kwine, Jackson Powwock and Mark Rodko as part of de Edward J. Gawwagher Memoriaw Cowwection, a tribute to a young man who was kiwwed in a boating accident. The museum awso incwudes de Samuew H. Kress Cowwection of European works from de 14f to 19f centuries and de C. Leonard Pfeiffer Cowwection of American paintings.

Internationaw Wiwdwife Museum, which is 5 mi (8.0 km) west of Interstate 10, maintains an exhibition of over four-hundred different mounted and prepared animaw species hunted from around de gwobe.[87][88]

Titan Missiwe Museum is about 25 mi (40 km) souf of de city on I-19. This is a Cowd War era Titan nucwear missiwe siwo (biwwed as de onwy remaining intact post-Cowd War Titan missiwe siwo) turned tourist stop.

Shops in Summerhaven on Mount Lemmon offer such items as jewewry and oder gifts, pizza, and fresh-fruit pies. The wegacy of de Aspen Fire can be seen in charred trees, rebuiwt homes, and mewted beads incorporated into a sidewawk.

Fourf Avenue, near de University of Arizona, is home to many shops, restaurants, and bars, and hosts de annuaw 4f Avenue Street Fair every December and March. University Bouwevard, weading directwy to de UA Main Gate, is awso de center of numerous bars, retaiw shops, and restaurants most commonwy freqwented by de warge student popuwation of de UA.

Ew Tiradito is a rewigious shrine in de downtown area. The Shrine dates back to de earwy days of Tucson, uh-hah-hah-hah. It is based on a wove story of revenge and murder. Peopwe stop by de Shrine to wight a candwe for someone in need, a pwace for peopwe to go give hope.

The Biosphere 2 is a 3.14-acre educationaw faciwity, designed to mimic a tropicaw or sub-tropicaw cwimate-controwwed environment.[89]

The accompwished and awarded writers (poets, novewists, dramatists, nonfiction writers) who have wived in Tucson incwude Edward Abbey, Erskine Cawdweww, Barbara Kingsowver and David Foster Wawwace. Some were associated wif de University of Arizona, but many were independent writers who chose to make Tucson deir home. The city is particuwarwy active in pubwishing and presenting contemporary innovative poetry in various ways. Exampwes are de Chax Press, a pubwisher of poetry books in trade and book arts editions, and de University of Arizona Poetry Center, which has a sizabwe poetry wibrary and presents readings, conferences, and workshops.

Theater groups incwude de Arizona Theatre Company, which performs in de Tempwe of Music and Art, and Arizona Onstage Productions, a not-for-profit deater company devoted to musicaw deater. Broadway in Tucson presents de touring reproductions of many Broadway-stywe events. The Gaswight Theater produces musicaw mewodrama parodies in de owd Jerry Lewis Theater and has been in Tucson since 1977.[90]

The Desert View Performing Arts Center (DVPAC) – a State of de Art Theater wocated in SaddweBrooke presents wive performances from Rock and Roww to Musicaws and Symphonies. Located at 39900 S. Cwubhouse Drive, Tucson, AZ 85739 onwine infirmation at https://dvpac.net/

Tucson is considered an infwuentiaw center for Mariachi music and is home to a warge number of Mariachi musicians and singers.[94] The Tucson Internationaw Mariachi Conference, hosted annuawwy since 1982, invowves severaw hundred mariachi bands and fowkworica dance troops during a dree-day festivaw in Apriw.[95] The Norteño Festivaw and Street Fair in de encwave city of Souf Tucson is hewd annuawwy at de end of summer.

Tucson is weww known for its Sonoran-stywe Mexican food.[97][98] But since de turn of de century, ednic restaurants and fine dining choices have prowiferated.[99][100]

In 2015 de United Nations Educationaw, Scientific and Cuwturaw Organization (UNESCO) designated Tucson a "worwd city of gastronomy" under de Creative Cities Network program,[101] becoming dus de first city of gastronomy in de United States.[102][103]

The Sonoran hot dog is very popuwar in Tucson, uh-hah-hah-hah. This is a hot dog wrapped in bacon and griwwed, served on a bowiwwo-stywe hot dog bun, and topped wif pinto beans, onions, tomatoes, and a variety of additionaw condiments, often incwuding mayonnaise, mustard, and jawapeño sawsa.[104][105][106]

Tucson is commonwy known as "The Owd Puebwo". Whiwe de exact origin of dis nickname is uncertain, it is commonwy traced back to Mayor R. N. "Bob" Leaderwood. When raiw service was estabwished to de city on March 20, 1880, Leaderwood cewebrated de fact by sending tewegrams to various weaders, incwuding de President of de United States and de Pope, announcing dat de "ancient and honorabwe puebwo" of Tucson was now connected by raiw to de outside worwd. The term became popuwar wif newspaper writers who often abbreviated it as "A. and H. Puebwo". This in turn transformed into de current form of "The Owd Puebwo".[107]

In de earwy 1980s, city weaders ran a contest searching for a new nickname. The winning entry was de "Sunshine Factory".[108] The new nickname never gained popuwar acceptance, awwowing de owd name to remain in common use.[109] Tucson was dubbed "Optics Vawwey" in 1992 when Business Week ran a cover story on de Arizona Optics Industry Association, uh-hah-hah-hah.[110]

Tucson is not represented in any of de four major sports weagues of de United States; de NFL, MLB, de NBA, or de NHL. The University of Arizona Wiwdcats teams, most notabwy de men's basketbaww and women's softbaww teams have strong wocaw interest. The men's basketbaww team, formerwy coached by Haww of Fame head coach Lute Owson and currentwy coached by Sean Miwwer, has made 25 straight NCAA Tournaments and won de 1997 Nationaw Championship. Arizona's Softbaww team has reached de NCAA Nationaw Championship game 12 times and has won 8 times, most recentwy in 2007. The men's basebaww team has won NCAA Nationaw Championships in 1976, 1980, 1986 and 2012. The university's swim teams have gained internationaw recognition, wif swimmers coming from as far as Japan and Africa to train wif de coach Frank Busch who has awso worked wif de U.S. Owympic swim team for a number of years. Bof men's and women's swim teams won de 2008 NCAA Nationaw Championships.[111]

Tracks incwude Tucson Raceway Park and Riwwito Downs. Tucson Raceway Park hosts NASCAR-sanctioned auto racing events and is one of onwy two asphawt short tracks in Arizona. Riwwito Downs is an in-town destination on weekends in January and February each year. This historic track hewd de first organized qwarter horse races in de worwd, and dey are stiww racing dere. The racetrack is dreatened by devewopment. The Mowtacqwa racetrack, was anoder historic horse racetrack on what is now Sabino Canyon Road and Vactor Ranch Traiw, but it no wonger exists.[117]

The city has more dan 120 parks, from smaww and wocaw to warger parks wif bawwfiewds, naturaw areas, wakes, 5 pubwic gowf courses, and Reid Park Zoo. "The Loop" is a popuwar system of wawking/running/bicycwing/horseback traiws encircwing de city primariwy awong washes, and it is usuawwy weww separated from traffic. Severaw scenic parks and points of interest are awso nearby, incwuding de Tucson Botanicaw Gardens, Tohono Chuw Park, Saguaro Nationaw Park, Sabino Canyon, and Biosphere 2 (just norf of de city, near de town of Oracwe).

Mt. Lemmon is 25 miwes (40 km) norf (by road) and over 6,700 feet (2,000 m) above Tucson in de Santa Catawina Mountains in de Coronado Nationaw Forest. Outdoor activities in de Catawinas incwude hiking, mountain biking, birding, rock cwimbing, picnicking, camping, swimming in mountain stream poows, sky rides at Ski Vawwey, fishing and photography. In winter wif enough snow de sky ride converts back to skiing at de soudernmost ski resort in de continentaw United States. Summerhaven, a community near de top of Mt. Lemmon, is awso a popuwar destination, uh-hah-hah-hah.

The League of American Bicycwists gave Tucson a gowd rating for bicycwe friendwiness in wate Apriw 2007. Tucson hosts de wargest perimeter cycwing event in de United States. The ride cawwed "Ew Tour de Tucson" happens in November on de Saturday before Thanksgiving. Ew Tour de Tucson produced and promoted by Perimeter Bicycwing has as many as 10,000 participants from aww over de worwd, annuawwy. Tucson is one of onwy nine cities in de U.S. to receive a gowd rating or higher for cycwing friendwiness from de League of American Bicycwists. The city is known for its winter cycwing opportunities, wif teams and riders from around de worwd spending a portion of de year training in Tucson's year-round biking cwimate. Popuwar mountain biking areas incwude Tucson Mountain Park, Sweetwater Preserve, de Tortowita Mountain traiw systems, and Fantasy Iswand. Road cycwists take on Catawina Highway's steep cwimb year-round.

In generaw, Tucson and Pima County support de Democratic Party, as opposed de state's wargest metropowitan area, Phoenix, which usuawwy supports de Repubwican Party. Congressionaw redistricting in 2013, fowwowing de pubwication of de 2010 Census, divided de Tucson area into dree Federaw Congressionaw districts (de first, second and dird of Arizona). The city center is in de 3rd District, represented by Rauw Grijawva, a Democrat, since 2003, whiwe de more affwuent residentiaw areas to de souf and east are in de 2nd District, represented by Democrat Ann Kirkpatrick since 2019, and de exurbs norf and west between Tucson and Phoenix in de 1st District are represented by Democrat Tom O'Hawweran since 2016.[124]
The United States Postaw Service operates post offices in Tucson, uh-hah-hah-hah. The Tucson Main Post Office is at 1501 Souf Cherrybeww Stravenue.[125]

Tucson fowwows de "weak mayor" modew of de counciw-manager form of wocaw government. The 6-member city counciw howds excwusive wegiswative audority, and shares executive audority wif de mayor, who is ewected by de voters independentwy of de counciw. An appointed city manager is responsibwe for de day-to-day operations of de city. Tucson is de onwy city in Arizona dat howds officiawwy partisan ewections for city offices, wif candidates being nominated drough party primaries.[126]

Bof de counciw members and de mayor serve four-year terms; none face term wimits. Counciw members are nominated by deir wards via a ward-wevew primary hewd in August. The top vote-earners from each party den compete at-warge for deir ward's seat on de November bawwot. In oder words, on ewection day de whowe city votes on aww de counciw races up for dat year. Counciw ewections are severed: Wards 1, 2, and 4 (as weww as de mayor) are up for ewection in de same year (most recentwy 2015), whiwe Wards 3, 5, and 6 share anoder year (most recentwy 2017).

Tucson is known for being a traiwbwazer in vowuntary partiaw pubwicwy financed campaigns. Since 1985, bof mayoraw and counciw candidates have been ewigibwe to receive matching pubwic funds from de city. To become ewigibwe, counciw candidates must receive 200 donations of $10 or more (300 for a mayoraw candidate). Candidates must den agree to spending wimits eqwaw to 33¢ for every registered Tucson voter, or $79,222 in 2005 (de corresponding figures for mayor are 64¢ per registered voter, or $142,271 in 2003). In return, candidates receive matching funds from de city at a 1:1 ratio of pubwic money to private donations. The onwy oder wimitation is dat candidates may not exceed 75% of de wimit by de date of de primary. Many cities, such as San Francisco and New York City, have copied dis system, awbeit wif more compwex spending and matching formuwas.

In 1956, Tucson High Schoow had de wargest enrowwment of any secondary schoow in de United States, wif a totaw of more dan 6,800 students.[141] The faciwity operated on a two-shift basis whiwe construction went on for two oder high schoows dat opened widin a year to educate chiwdren in de rapidwy booming Tucson popuwation, uh-hah-hah-hah.

The Tucson metro area is served by many wocaw tewevision stations and is de 65f wargest designated market area (DMA) in de U.S. wif 433,330 homes (0.39% of de totaw U.S.). It is wimited to de dree counties of soudeastern Arizona (Pima, Santa Cruz, and Cochise)[142]

Tucson's primary ewectricaw power source is a coaw and naturaw gas power-pwant managed by Tucson Ewectric Power dat is situated widin de city wimits on de souf-western boundary of Davis-Mondan Air-force base adjacent to Interstate-10. The air powwution generated has raised some concerns as de Sundt operating station has been onwine since 1962 and is exempt from many powwution standards and controws due to its age.[143]
Sowar has been gaining ground in Tucson wif its ideaw over 300 days of sunshine cwimate. Federaw, state, and even wocaw utiwity credits and incentives have awso enticed residents to eqwip homes wif sowar systems.
Davis-Mondan AFB has a 3.3 Megawatt (MW) ground-mounted sowar photovowtaic (PV) array and a 2.7 MW rooftop-mounted PV array, bof of which are in de Base Housing area. The base wiww soon have de wargest sowar-generating capacity in de United States Department of Defense after awarding a contract on September 10, 2010, to SunEdison to construct a 14.5 MW PV fiewd on de nordwestern side of de base.[144]

Perhaps de biggest sustainabiwity probwem in Tucson, wif its high desert cwimate, is potabwe water suppwy. The state manages aww water in Arizona drough its Arizona Department of Water Resources (ADWR). The primary consumer of water is Agricuwture (incwuding gowf courses), which consumes about 69% of aww water. Municipaw (which incwudes residentiaw use) accounts for about 25% of use.[147] Energy consumption and avaiwabiwity is anoder sustainabiwity issue. However, wif over 300 days of fuww sun a year, Tucson has demonstrated its potentiaw to be an ideaw sowar energy producer.

Tucson and Pima County adopted Dark Sky ordinances to controw wight powwution in support of de region's astronomicaw observatories in 1972.[148] Last amended in 2012,[149] de City of Tucson/Pima County Outdoor Lighting Code estabwishes maximum iwwumination wevews, shiewding reqwirements, and wimits on signage in "continuing support of astronomicaw activity and minimizing wasted energy, whiwe not compromising de safety, security, and weww-being of persons engaged in outdoor nighttime activities."[150]

Less dan 100 years ago, de Santa Cruz River fwowed nearwy year-round drough Tucson, uh-hah-hah-hah. This suppwy of water has swowwy disappeared, causing Tucson to seek awternative sources.

In 1881, water was pumped from a weww on de banks of de Santa Cruz River and fwowed by gravity drough pipes into de distribution system.[151]

Tucson currentwy draws water from two main sources: Centraw Arizona Project (CAP) water and groundwater. In 1992, Tucson Water dewivered CAP water to some customers dat was referred to as being unacceptabwe due to discoworation, bad odor and fwavor, as weww as probwems it caused some customers' pwumbing and appwiances. Tucson's city water currentwy consists of CAP water mixed wif groundwater.

In an effort to conserve water, Tucson is recharging groundwater suppwies by running part of its share of CAP water into various open portions of wocaw rivers to seep into deir aqwifer.[152] Additionaw study is scheduwed to determine how much water is wost drough evaporation from de open areas, especiawwy during de summer. The City of Tucson provides recwaimed water to its inhabitants, but it is onwy used for "appwications such as irrigation, dust controw, and industriaw uses."[153] These resources have been in pwace for more dan 27 years, and dewiver to over 900 wocations.[153]

To prevent furder woss of groundwater, Tucson has been invowved in water conservation and groundwater preservation efforts, shifting away from its rewiance on a series of Tucson area wewws in favor of conservation, consumption-based pricing for residentiaw and commerciaw water use, and new wewws in de more sustainabwe Avra Vawwey aqwifer, nordwest of de city. An awwocation from de Centraw Arizona Project Aqweduct (CAP), which passes more dan 300 mi (480 km) across de desert from de Coworado River, has been incorporated into de city's water suppwy, annuawwy providing over 20 miwwion gawwons of "recharged" water which is pumped into de ground to repwenish water pumped out.[154] Since 2001, CAP water has awwowed de city to remove or turn off over 80 wewws.[155]

Cycwing is popuwar in Tucson due to its fwat terrain and dry cwimate. Tucson and Pima County maintain an extensive network of marked bike routes, signaw crossings, on-street bike wanes, mountain-biking traiws, and dedicated shared-use pads. The Loop is a network of seven winear parks comprising over 100 mi (160 km) of paved, vehicwe-free traiws dat encircwes de majority of de city wif winks to Marana and Oro Vawwey.[160][161] The Tucson-Pima County Bicycwe Advisory Committee (TPCBAC) serves in an advisory capacity to wocaw governments on issues rewating to bicycwe recreation, transportation, and safety. The League of American Bicycwists awarded Tuscon a gowd rating for bicycwe-friendwiness in 2006.[162]

^Officiaw records for Tucson kept September 1894 to January 1930 at de Weader Forecast Office, February 1930 to 14 October 1948 at de Weader bureau Office, and at Tucson Int'w since 15 October 1948. For more information, see Threadex